Imperial

Thanks to Guillaume Berthoumieu from ArtStation for the splendid cover art!

Of the cultures that dot Emaxus, none are as numerous or as rich in heritage as those of the Imperium of Aitreas. After the fall of Krathum in the waning years of the 4th Century AT, the Imperium grew to control the entirety of the continent of Aitreas, and for several centuries, Imperial was synonymous with Aitrean. Imperial goods were valuable across Emaxus, and the fact that they had come closer to anyone else to emulating the ancient, prosperous civilizations of the Age of Rebirth, their culture was one oft spoken of in high regard; however, with the Collapse having occurred half a decade ago, the Imperial culture has been called into question, and many people born and raised as Imperials have come to call themselves Aitreans, or refusing to give a cultural identity at all.
But, at the end of the day, there are still millions of Imperials on Emaxus, and their culture has been spreading rapidly as people have been fleeing Aitreas by the thousands. And with the Collapse devastating Aitreas, the amount of goods, cultural and otherwise, has gone down drastically. As such, Imperial people, and the goods and culture they can "provide," are starting to be considered hot commodities by those purveyors of culture and heritage.

Naming Conventions

Anyone born on Aitreas within the past few centuries is an Imperial by birthright. Proud citizens of the Imperium of Aitreas, Imperials are strong-willed, loyal to a fault, and more than willing to work towards common goals. Grounded in pre-Reckoning culture, and often speaking their native tongue of Euxinan (which their names are derived from), Imperials are echoes of a bygone age, seeking to reclaim the glory of empires past. But, in recent years, many Imperials have been forsaking their heritage, as the Collapse of the Imperium following the Disaster has caused many to lose faith in the trappings of their civilization.
Nevertheless, Imperials are unique, diverse, and pure of heart, but calamity can lead even the most noble soul astray.
Male Names: Appius, Arruns, Caius, Decius, Flavius, Gnaeus, Herius, Servius, Tiberius
Female Names: Avita, Caelia, Camillia, Livia, Pontia, Secundinia, Silia, Statilia, Vassenia
Family Names: Gracilis, Herma, Memor, Mercurialis, Rogelius, Sentius, Serranus, Variala, Vocula

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Most Imperials speak Common and whatever racial language they hold to (gnomish, elvish, etc.), and those who live in Imperial cities or are steeped in the culture speak Euxinan, the pre-Reckoning language that belonged to a culture and civilization Imperials owe much to.

Common Etiquette rules

Imperials believe in basic respect and dignity to all mortals. Greetings in passing and random conversations with strangers are common, as Imperials in all classes of society value social connections and interactions highly. Due to the importance of sociability in Imperial culture, being kind and respectful, while maintaining your own dignity, is crucial.

Common Dress code

Imperials favor looser clothes than most cultures, opting for cloth togas, sabatons, and the like over burlap and leather. Most of these togas are white or grey, with a specific color trim or sash. This color, ranging across the entire color spectrum, is an easy way for Imperials to highlight their personalities.

Art & Architecture

Imperial architecture heavily favors marble and stone, with much less wood than other cultures. Also, they appreciate pillars and balconies, and most of their architecture is much more artistic than other cultures.

Historical figures

Imperials owe the entirety of their culture and heritage as it is today to an aasimar by the name of Rheomia. It was she who founded Ariminium and the Imperium, and set the foundation for the reunification of Aitreas in the wake of Krathum's devastation.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Imperials are much more comfortable and open with their bodies and sexualities than most cultures in Emaxus. While sexuality and "who you love" is not something questioned in any major Emaxian culture, Imperials consider sex something to be openly discussed and indulged in, while other cultures see it as something more taboo. As such, Imperials value physical beauty highly; however, they see physical beauty in all things. They believe that all mortals are beautiful in their own ways, and see no difference between a peasant laborer and a patrician senator. Indeed, they believe variety is the spice of life, and to favor one body type or hair color or even eye color is to limit oneself from the kaleidoscope of mortal endeavors.

Gender Ideals

Imperials, like all Emaxian cultures/ethnicities, believe little in the idea of gender roles. Similar to their views on sex, they believe variety is essential, and that all mortals can achieve anything they believe they can, regardless of their race, gender identity, or what have you.

Relationship Ideals

Imperials have little interest in true courtship in their day to day lives. "One night stands" and the like can be rather common among the single (and even some of the committed) Imperials; however, when one is to sit down and commit to another person, there are some protocols to be followed. Notably, the one initiating the relationship is to provide a beautiful, red flower known as the imperial love petal. If the recipient accepts, then their courtship has begun. Beyond that, there is little in the way of rules or the like, though parental input (not necessarily acceptance, just acknowledgement at the least) is sometimes appreciated to validate the new relationship.

Major organizations

The Imperium of Aitreas is the progenitor of the Imperial ethnicity itself.